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On Saturday, October 7th we hosted a Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza event for kids interested in the pipe organ. With around 35 in attendance, we alternated groups (older and younger) from OrgelKids kit building to exploring the console. After the event, we received multiple application for organ study funded by our chapter's Jolidon scholarships. Most stayed for pizza and fellowship afterward. We are so grateful for the ushers and facilitators of this event including board members Bob Gilbert, Eustace Straker, Chris Yi, Bill Hively, and Susan Carroll as well as Marnie Clark, Lori Bourret and Cheryl Wadsworth of the Hospitality Committee. This was a wonderful opportunity for educational outreach to the organ enthusiasts of the next generation! 

At the end of the month, we hosted the Hartford AGO's 32nd annual PipeScreams event. This elaborate Halloween-themed evening of snacks, candy, ghost stories, theatrics, and performances is always a neighborhood favorite. Eight organists - teenagers to retirees - shared costumed performances by Bach, Boellman, Shostakovich, and Ginastera, among others. There were also original arrangements and improvisations by Jay Lindsay and Caleb Smith. We had four volunteer stagehands who operated giant inflatable ghosts, flickered spooky lights, animated spiders and bats, etc. throughout the concert. The audience, filled with many families, was encouraged to boo and hiss after each piece (as is tradition with PipeScreams). The concert was preceded by ghost stories from Chion Wolf and El Polon around a bonfire outside while Rosemary Gregory and Marnie Clark served up festive snacks/cider. Susan Carroll then invited kids to explore the Orgelkids kit inside while waiting for the concert to begin. Boardmembers Sean McCarthy, Christopher Houlihan, Eustace Straker, and Bill Hively helped usher. This year we had a record 4 stagehands (Anne Desmarais, Adam Desmarais, Sophie Reilly, and Jennifer Reilly) who helped make the magic. For those interested, the concert in its entirety is now viewable on our Hartford AGO Youtube channel. 

Last night we were absolutely thrilled to support Olivier Latry's concert at Trinity College. What an incredible pleasure to welcome one of the most important organists of our generation back to Hartford for this special performance. Olivier Latry is the titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris) and Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory. His concert last night included works by Durufle, Bach, and Guillou, as well as an elaborate improvisation on mystery themes from an envelope. 

The remainder of November and December are planning months for our executive board, as we gear up for a big day of workshops and events in collaboration with the Connecticut chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. This event, which will be the first of its kind for our chapter, is an opportunity for both of our communities to meet, brainstorm, sing, and learn. Featuring reading sessions of choral music with organ accompaniment, conversations about instruments in the Hartford community, and discussions about challenges that conductors and organists alike are facing, we invite you to this time of idea-sharing. More information and registration will be available soon. 

As always, we provide job listing, grants, substitute lists, and organ scholarships year-round. Contact us anytime at HartfordAGO@gmail.com